Courtier Following Edict Against Superfluity in Dress

Art Historical Context

In the mid-to-late 17th century, French artists Abraham Bosse and Jean I Leblond collaborated on this witty etching and engraving, *Courtier Following Edict Against Superfluity in Dress*. Bosse, renowned for his intricate reproductive prints and social satire, paired with Leblond's precise engraving skills to capture a courtier absurdly clad in a woman's dress. The trimmed sheet measures 11 3/8 × 7 3/4 inches, showcasing the fine lines and tonal depth typical of the medium, which allowed for affordable dissemination of commentary on contemporary fashions. This print pokes fun at France's strict sumptuary laws under Louis XIV, which curbed extravagance in dress to maintain social order and fiscal restraint. By depicting a nobleman complying with an edict against luxurious attire—reduced here to cross-dressing—the artists highlight the ridiculous extremes of regulation versus vanity. Such works from the Drawings and Prints department at The Metropolitan Museum of Art reflect the era's cultural tensions between opulence and restraint. Etching and engraving's durability made it ideal for satirical broadsheets, influencing public discourse on gender norms and class. Today, it offers a charming glimpse into Baroque-era wit, now part of The Elisha Whittelsey Collection.

About the Artist

Abraham Bosse|Jean I Leblond · 1602–1676

Abraham Bosse (1604–1676) was a French printmaker and theorist whose approximately 1,600 etchings provide an unparalleled visual record of 17th-century French life. Born to Huguenot parents in Tours, he trained in Paris under Melchior Tavernier and became a devoted follower of Jacques Callot's technical innovations. Bosse's meticulous etchings depicted subjects ranging from daily life and fashion ...